From School Library Journal
Grade 3-6?Despite the plethora of books about frogs available for children, this series offering is worth consideration. The majority of the text and pictures are about the growth and development of tadpoles. The full-color photographs are of excellent quality. Directions for collecting and keeping tadpoles are included, though the job of caring for them will daunt all but the most avid frog fans. Several science projects are outlined and a list of sources for frog eggs and tadpole supplies is included. Unfamiliar words are often explained in context but not highlighted and sometimes the dense text and vivid pictures can make the pages seem too cramped. On the whole, however, given this book's particular and thorough emphasis on young frogs, most libraries will find it useful.?Ellen M. Riordan, Enoch Pratt Free Library, Baltimore, MD
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Kirkus Reviews
The draw for readers may be information on how to catch, raise, and observe tadpoles from egg to adult, but this solid entry in the Nature Close-Up series also discusses the classification of amphibians, frog families, frog anatomy, life cycle, and endangered status. Pascoe (Freedom of Expression, 1992, etc.) includes simple experiments, e.g., determining whether tadpoles prefer light or dark conditions. The activities stress the careful treatment of the creatures under scrutiny, but some naturalists will question keeping tadpoles in the refrigerator for observation. The text gives safety warnings for collecting specimens in ponds and streams, advising readers to wear shoes or sandals to protect their feet (although one of the young collectors is twice shown wading barefoot in the full-color photographs). Neat facts buoy the text, e.g., a frog closes its eyes when swallowing because it is ``pushing with its big eyeballs, to help force the food down its gullet.'' Many photographs are appealing, but it is hard to see the changes from tadpole to frog in one major sequence because the leafy green background obscures essential details. Nevertheless, an especially handsome cover will attract young readers. (glossary, further reading, index) (Nonfiction. 8-10) --
Copyright ©1996, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.
